Alcohol and drug addiction can hardly be considered a rarity. And it’s not a secret to anyone that cessation of the use of a certain addictive substance is accompanied by severe symptoms. Why does withdrawal symptoms occur ? What is it and what are its symptoms? How dangerous is this condition? These questions will be of interest to many.
Withdrawal syndrome: what is it? The mechanism of occurrence of "breaking"
This condition occurs against the background of discontinuation of substances that have caused addiction. The presence of such a condition indicates chronic alcoholism or drug addiction - in healthy people there are no such problems.
But why does withdrawal symptoms occur ? What are these mechanisms responsible for physical changes in the human body? The fact is that prolonged use of a narcotic substance (or ethyl alcohol) leads to a metabolic failure. Over time, the body gets so used to the toxin that it includes it in the metabolic reaction. Accordingly, stopping the drug affects the work of almost every organ. In fact, withdrawal syndrome is an attempt by the body to restore its natural state.
Withdrawal syndrome and its symptoms
As a rule, the first signs of “breaking” appear 6-48 hours after the last dose of the drug. Symptoms in this case depend on the stage of alcoholism. Nevertheless, some common features can be highlighted.
As a rule, withdrawal syndrome is accompanied by increased irritability, distraction, decreased performance. Physical changes are also noticeable - muscle pain, excessive sweating, tachycardia. Patients noted shortness of breath and arrhythmia. Out of neurological symptoms, hand tremor and gait instability stand out. As a rule, people suffer from insomnia. Even if they manage to fall asleep, then dreams are accompanied by nightmares, and in the morning there is a strong weakness and fatigue.
There are other symptoms that accompany withdrawal symptoms. What are these violations? For example, with a severe form of dependence, changes in the functioning of the central nervous system are observed. Patients suffer from hallucinations (visual or auditory), show an inadequate response to habitual stimuli. In some cases, this condition is accompanied by convulsions. Help with withdrawal symptoms is a must. Yes, in some cases, people with addiction manage to survive such a violation on their own. But more often than not, “breaking” leads either to a breakdown or to the appearance of severe psychosis, popularly called the “delirium tremens”.
Treatment of withdrawal symptoms
As a rule, patients with this diagnosis require hospitalization. Only a narcologist can help the patient suffer an abstinence syndrome. The drugs used in therapy are designed to eliminate the main symptoms, normalize metabolism and cleanse the body of toxins. In case of mental disorders, sedatives and tranquilizers are possible in the first few days. If the syndrome is accompanied by seizures, patients are prescribed anticonvulsants. For heart problems, beta-blockers are used. In any case, tablets for addiction do not exist. Drug treatment can facilitate the process of stopping the use of narcotic substances, but does not relieve psychological dependence.